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Tournaments  | Story | 12/29/2021

Regional Review: Pacific Northwest

Photo: Dominic Hellman (Perfect Game)
Regional Review: Texas | California | Georgia

With the Perfect Game scouting staff spread throughout the country and another action-packed season in the books, we'll take a look back at some highlights from individual states over the next couple of weeks, from the 13u level all the way up through the collegiate ranks and the MLB Draft.





Biggest 13u Moment/Breakout Player

A recent 12u Select Festival player, Zayne Hookala strung together dominant performances on both sides at the 13u level. He is the top arm and lone player inside the 2026 top-100 from Hawaii following an impressive 2021 season. On the hill, he shows an advanced feel for spin in the form of a potent 12-6 curveball with tight shape and depth. The fastball consistently sits in the high-70s with more in the tank as he physically matures. At the plate, Hookala swings with intent and shows good amounts of pull-side pop. He is a name to watch closely moving forward.



Biggest 14u Moment/Breakout Player

It was hard to find a more impressive performer in the region than LHP/1B Kruz Schoolcraft this year. He features advanced feel for all three pitches in his arsenal, sporting a fastball already up to the low-80s with two distinct off-speeds in a curveball and changeup that force plenty of swing-and-miss. He continues to rise up the rankings following a dominant showing at the WWBA 14u World Championship. At 6-foot-2, 150 pounds, his pitchability from the left side makes him one of the most intriguing products in the class with the upside and projection to match as he physically develops. Meanwhile, a pair of Oregon State commits in Xavier Neyens and Mason Pike each had breakout moments at this year’s 14u Select Festival. Neyens is a physical left-handed backstop with loud tools on both sides. Pike is a fluid infielder with quick hands from both sides of the plate, generating easy bat speed and loft in the path that projects well at the next level. Both players rank inside the top-20 of the 2025 class.



Biggest Summer Moment

To have a round of batting practice as a nominee for the biggest moment of the summer, it must be loud. That’s exactly what took place when University of Oregon commit Dominic Hellman stepped up to the plate at PG National. In one of the most impressive displays of raw power ever seen at the event, Hellman peppered the left field bleachers seemingly with every pitch he saw. Scouts simply sat back and enjoyed the show. Standing a towering 6-foot-6, 245 pounds, Hellman’s physical two-way skill set makes him an intriguing product for the upcoming 2022 MLB Draft. The ball explodes off the barrel to the pull side with endless power projection, and he also runs his fastball up to 90 mph off the mound. Hellman was already a well-known product before his display at PG National, but it made quite a buzz for the months that followed.



Biggest Breakout Player

University of Arkansas commit Nolan Souza put his talents on the map after a loud summer. The ability on both sides has catapulted him as one of the best prospects to come out of Hawaii in many years. You can break Souza down in a multitude of ways, but it starts with the hands. Defensively, his quick transfers and clean movements at shortstop compliment good amounts of arm strength from different slots. The feet and hands are in-sync and work well off one another. At the plate, Souza employs a loose and easy left-handed swing with feel for the barrel to all fields. He loads into the backside, but the hands get deep and really extend through the zone for loud contact. Souza has begun to tap into loud pull-side power geared for such a compact swing, and more is in store as he fills out his lean frame. The hit tool, athleticism and skill set helps Souza make the game look easy at times. He broke out in a big way in 2021.
 
Biggest College Moment

Led by Head Coach Mark Wasikowski at the helm, the Oregon Ducks had a breakthrough 2021 season and are well on the rise heading into 2022. The Ducks were in contention for a PAC-12 title and played in its first Regional final since 2014, finishing the year 39-16 overall and 20-10 in conference play. Aaron Zavala was named PAC-12 Player of the Year, batting .398 with seven homers and 58 runs scored. He led the conference in on-base percentage (.538) and walks (49) on the season. Several other Ducks filled out the All-Conference team list in what was quite an impressive turnaround of a year. 
 
Biggest Draft Moment 

The University of Oregon also fared well at the 2021 MLB Draft, as three Duck alums were taken on day two. Coming off his impressive 2021 campaign, Zavala was selected No. 38 overall in the second round by the Texas Rangers. Zavala showed glimpses of a plus hit tool since his prep days at South Salem High School, and it truly came to form at the college level. Right-handed pitchers Robert Ahlstrom and Cullen Kafka followed in Round 7 and Round 9, helping Oregon finish the year on a strong note. Washington State University also made an appearance, as Cougars first baseman Kyle Manzardo went No. 63 overall in the second round to the Tampa Bay Rays. Washington State pitcher Zane Mills was also a fourth-round selection by the St. Louis Cardinals. As a whole, the Pacific Northwest showed out with a pair of high draftees. 
 
Top Pacific Northwest Travel Teams

2022 Grads: Hawaii Elite 2G
National Rank: 27

2022 Grads: Baseball Northwest National (WA)
National Rank: 95
 
2024 Grads: NL Diamond Jaxx (WA)
National Rank: Honorable Mention
 
2025 Grads: New Level Baseball 14u-Cowan (WA)
National Rank: No. 47
 
A Look Ahead




High School: There is a bevy of prep talent still scattered around the region. USC commit Tate Shimao is one of the top bats from the Aloha State with an innate feel for the barrel and strength/loft to the pull side. Zachary Justice is sound defensively at catcher with a quick transfer and plenty of arm strength. The Oregon commit can also hop on the bump and throw a mid-80s fastball and subtle changeup. Ian Ritchie Jr. will be getting plenty of draft buzz this spring, and for good reason. The UCLA commit has explosive traits that stand out amongst the loaded arms in the class, featuring plus arm speed consistently in the low- to mid-90s and improved feel for a tight slider that has the signs of a prominent swing-and-miss secondary at the next level. The physical projection and profile is hard to ignore. 
 
College: After a disappointing 2021, Washington baseball could be in store for a bounce-back 2022 season. The Huskies added Assistant Coach Andy Jenkins to the staff, who can bring a veteran presence to the entire operation, including the development of catchers following his successful stint at Oregon State. Head Coach Lindsay Meggs enters his 13th season with the Huskies to go along with an enticing lineup full of underclassmen ready to take the next step. 

Tournaments | Story | 7/7/2026

Two Day Rewind at 15u National Elite

Kinley Kitchens
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Two days into the 2026 Perfect Game 15U National Elite Championship, the storylines are already beginning to take shape. As one of the summer’s premier invite-only events, the tournament annually brings together many of the nation’s top 15U clubs, with 100 elite teams traveling to Hoover in pursuit of a championship. While there is still plenty of baseball left to play, the opening rounds have already produced breakout performances, dominant team victories, and plenty of excitement heading into bracket play. Several nationally recognized organizations entered the week as favorites, including MTBA Dawgs, ranked No. 3 nationally, Wildcatters Baseball at No. 10, and 5 Star Mafia, ranked No. 12. Meanwhile, newer programs like Jason Kidd Select Team have quickly shown they are capable of making noise against the nation’s best. One of the biggest storylines through the first...
Tournaments | Story | 7/7/2026

15u Elite Scout Notes: Days 1-2

Troy Sutherland
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Tristan Barton (‘29, TX) has struck out three over three scoreless innings of work, getting a lively FB up to 89. Mixed in a sharp vt CB w/ late bite. Operates from a projectable RH frame w/ length + room to fill. #NatElite @Texas_PG pic.twitter.com/LXfkLOtxdo — Perfect Game Scout (@PG_Scouting) July 5, 2026 Tristan Barton (’29, Gunter, TX) turned in a strong start on Sunday, lasting four innings of one run ball, striking out four. Barton operates from a bigger lengthy right-handed frame with considerable room to fill. He starts with a mid-body handset before working to the belt and into a high compact leg lift. Barton fires down via a compact arm action and high three quarters slot. The Texas native got a run/ride fastball up to 89, living in the mid-80s throughout the outing. He mixed in a sharp 12-6 curveball with vertical depth and late bite. Jack Graviss...
Tournaments | Story | 7/7/2026

16u WWBA Scout Notes: Day 1

Jason Phillips
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Nolan Ash (2028, Ashland, Mo.) showed off the power upside for Natty State 2028. The right-handed hitter starts from a spread stance with in-line feet and a high handset with a high back elbow, utilizes a leg lift stride. Creates separation and uses a direct hand path with a slightly uphill bat plane and some feel to generate lift from the lower half. Quick hands and stays in-sync with a rotational lower half and solid bat speed. Showed the power belting a solo bomb over the left field fence. Long and lean 6-foot-2, 175-pound frame with wiry strength present and more room to fill. The shortstop has a high ceiling and feel for the barrel. Colton Dodds (2028, Columbia, Mo.) showed off the barrel feel and power upside for Natty State 2028. The right-handed hitter starts from a wide base with in-line feet and a high handset with a high back elbow, utilizes a no stride trigger. Direct hands...
College | Story | 7/7/2026

Coppy's Corner: July 7 Summer Edition

John Coppolella
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It’s an exciting time for College Baseball. Not only do potential and proposed changes to the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) elevate the game, but we are coming off a thrilling College World Series and less than a week away from Major League Baseball’s 2026 Amateur Draft. In the middle of it all is the Cape Cod Baseball League.  The amateur players on the Cape are the future stars of the 2027 MLB Draft. The league runs from June 13th  through August 2nd. Games are played at historic stadiums in Old New England towns. It’s beautiful and charming. Hollywood even made a movie about the Cape Cod League ~25 years ago called Summer Catch. It scored an 8% (!) on Rotten Tomatoes, but, on the plus side, it featured 2001 Jessica Biel in a starring role.  It was so much fun writing Coppy’s Column this spring. My hope is to highlight a pitcher and...
Tournaments | Story | 7/6/2026

16u WWBA Rolls Into Marietta

Will Dembo
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More than 300 of the nation’s top 16u teams will meet in East Cobb, Georgia this week as the 16u WWBA Championship gets underway. Over 50 ranked teams from across the country will compete for one of the most prestigious titles in travel baseball, drawing scouts and fans from all over. Pool play will commence on Monday, July 6th with the championship game set for July 13th at the storied East Cobb Baseball Complex. Canes National 16u will hold honors of being the top ranked team entering the event as they have earned a No. 2 national ranking following a dominant 17-2-1 start to their season. The highly touted program is home to many of the top ranked prospects from the 2028 class including talented two-way athlete, Grant Arnold (No. 12 overall) who lives in the 90’s from the mound as well as middle infielder, Bryan Mesa (No. 14 overall) who will draw lots of attention this...
College | Story | 7/6/2026

USA Collegiate National Team: Stars

Craig Cozart
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Quick Hits  Each year at the end of June and beginning of July, top collegiate baseball talent from around the nation arrives in Cary, NC at the USA Baseball National Training Complex.  Typically, the rosters are filled with top underclass, non-draft-eligible talent but this year, we will see a sprinkling of upper-classmen as the coaches evaluate just under 60 players to get to their final 28 roster spots.  For a total of two weeks, the Stars Squad and the Stripes Squad will compete against outside competition in North Carolina as well as Virginia before finishing their slate with 5-games against each other at the NTC Complex.  Once the final roster has been announced the team will depart for Taiwan to compete in the 2026 World Baseball Championships, July 11-15.    CNT Stars Position Players  Anthony Pack Jr.  FR / OF / University of Texas ...
Draft | Mock Draft | 7/6/2026

MLB Mock Draft: 4.0

Tyler Henninger
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MLB Draft: Top 500 Update Pick Team Name Pos. School 1 Chicago White Sox Roch Cholowsky SS UCLA 2 Tampa Bay Rays Grady Emerson SS Fort Worth Christian 3 Minnesota Twins Vahn Lackey C Georgia Tech 4 San Francisco Giants Jacob Lombard SS Gulliver Schools 5 Pittsburgh Pirates Jackson Flora RHP UC Santa Barbara 6 Kansas City Royals Drew Burress OF Georgia Tech 7 Baltimore Orioles Eric Booth Jr. OF Oak Grove 8 Athletics Chris Hacopian SS Texas A&M 9 Atlanta Braves Ryder Helfrick C Arkansas 10 Colorado Rockies Tyler Bell* SS Kentucky 11 Washington Nationals Jared Grindlinger LHP/OF Huntington Beach 12 Los Angeles Angels Cameron Flukey RHP Coastal Carolina 13 St. Louis Cardinals AJ Gracia OF Virginia 14 Miami Marlins Derek Curiel OF LSU 15 Arizona Diamondbacks Gio Rojas LHP Marjory Stoneman Douglas 16 Texas Rangers Liam Peterson RHP Florida 17 Houston Astros Justin Lebron SS Alabama 18...
Tournaments | Story | 7/5/2026

13u World Series Notes: Days 1-2

Perfect Game Staff
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Michael Wedgeworth (2030, Flomaton, AL) had put the two way ability on full display so far this week, dominating from both sides. On the mound Wedgeworth ran the fastball up to 84 (81-83) with ease to the delivery. Broke off a couple nasty curveballs that induced swing and miss, as well as freezing hitters for punch outs. Collected six in his four inning complete game. He also would not be denied at the plate going 3-5 in the first two days with two doubles. Very intriguing young player as the body continues to grow.  Tyler Bellush (2031, Summerville, SC) is a sure handed shortstop for the Canes Nation squad. Swings it from the left side of the plate and the barrel accuracy has really stuck out thus far. 3-4 through the first couple days with a double and two triples, Bellush has also walked twice and collected 3 RBI along the way. Yesterday against USA Prime with the bases loaded,...
Tournaments | Story | 7/4/2026

16u WWBA North Scout Notes

Perfect Game Staff
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Oliver Lindstrom (2028, Green Bay, WI) created some of the loudest offensive moments of the weekend while producing across the board, finishing with six hits, eight RBI, and a home run. The right-handed hitter showed the ability to stay through the baseball and drive it with authority. Creates quality leverage through the lower half while arriving in strong hitting positions early, allowing the barrel to work with intent through the zone. The blend of power, athleticism, and all-fields impact stood out throughout the event.  Dominic Haigh (2028, South Bend, IN) was one of the most productive hitters at the event, collecting 10 hits while consistently creating pressure on opposing defenses. Made life difficult on pitchers with a relentless approach, routinely extending at-bats and forcing them to work deep into counts. The operation remains simple and efficient, featuring an early...
Tournaments | Story | 7/4/2026

West Region Rankings Risers: Class of 2028

Joey Cohen
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After a heavy stretch of early summer looks, our scouting staff felt confident rolling out an updated ‘28 national ranking a couple weeks ago. The evaluation window was packed whether it was with our Memorial Day and Summer Kickoff tournaments, UBC action, Sunshine Showcases, and of course the Junior National Showcase which all provided a deep and diverse look at the class against strong competition. Between fresh game evaluations and updated showcase data, we were able to get a clearer picture of where players stand and more importantly how they’ve progressed. Improvements in strength, athleticism, and overall skill were evident across the board giving our staff real conviction when it came time to shuffle the board. With that in mind, I wanted to highlight a handful of west region prospects who made a strong impression on me this summer and earned a well-deserved jump in...
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